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The  Relation  of  Covenanters 

to  the 

United  States  Government 
CD.Trun)bull,D.D. 


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1890 


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The  relation  of  Covenanters n-^"^ 

JLJ^^tha      Uriitcxri      Q-Ha-H.^^ |\/  A 


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THE  RELATION  OE  COVENANTERS 

TO  THE 

UNITED  STATES  GOVERNMENT. 


d;t] 


BY  REV.  C.  D;  TRUMBULL,  D.  D., 
Pastor  of  Morning  Sun,  Iowa,  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church. 


This  subject  takes  for  granted  that  Covenanters  sustain  a  different 
relation  to  the  government  of  the  United  States  from  that  which  is 
sustained  b}^  other  religious  bodies  around  us.  This  is  indeed  the  fact. 
Other  bodies  of  Christians  identify  with  the  government  by  taking  part 
in  all  political  matters,  while  we,  who  are  Covenanters,  take  the  posi- 
tion of  dissent ;  we  do  not  vote  in  political  elections  ;  we  do  not  seek 
nor  accept  political  offices ;  we  do  not  identify  with  the  United  States 
government  in  any  wa}^  We  hold  that  to  do  these  things  is  to  sa}^  the 
least  inconsistent  with  the  Christian  profession  ;  many  among  us  go 
even  farther  and  sa}^,  it  is  positively  sinful. 

Why  is  it  that  Covenanters  take  this  position  ?  Every  member  of 
the  church  ought  to  be  able  to  answer  this  c[uestion.  We  cannot  afford 
to  be  ignorant  on  this  subject.  Men  who  float  with  the  tide  of  current 
opinion  may  be  ignorant,  but  those  wlio  stand  for  principle  in  opposi- 
tion to  the  multitudes  around  them  must  be  able  to  give  a  reason  for 
the  position  the^^  occupy.  Before  giving  the  reasons  for  our  dissent 
from  the  United  Slates  government,  we  would  remove  a  false  impres- 
sion which  rests  in  the  minds  of  some,  hence  we  remark  that 

Covenantee  are  not  anti-goiiernment  men.  We  believe  in  civil  gov- 
ernment, that  it  is  an  ordinance  of  God  and  founded  in  the  ver3'  nature 
of  man  ;  that  men  whose  lots  lUe  cast  in  a  oenitory  where  no  govern- 
ment exists  should  orcranize  a  civil  oovernment,  '•  establishino^  such  an 
authority  as  may  best  tend  to  preserve  order,  liberty  and  religion  among 
them  ;  and  that  it  is  lawful  for  tliem  to  model  their  constitutions  of  gov- 
ernment in  such  a  manner  as  ma}'  ai)pear  most  suitable  to  them  ;  provid- 
ed, such  constitutions  in  their  principles  and  distribution  of  power  be  in 
nothinoj  contrary  to  the  Divine  law.''  (See  Testimony,  Chap,  xxix, 
Sec.  S.') 


2  THE  RELATION  OF  COVENANTEES  TO 

We  hold,  moreover,  that  all  persons  under  the  jurisdiction  of  any 
government  should  obe}'  all  rigliteous  laws.  The  government  ma}^  be 
heathen  or  infidel,  yet  if  obedience  involves  no  iminoralitv  it  should  be 
rendered.  (See  Testimony,  Chap,  xxix,  Sec.  6,  and  Chap,  xxx,  Sec.  2. 
Also,  1  Pet.  2:  13.) 

We  consider  it  our  duty  to  support  the  government  b}-  the  payment 
of  taxes.  We  enjo}-  the  protection  of  the  government  and  many  privi- 
leges;  the  payment  of  taxes  is  only  rendering  a  just  return.  The 
rightfulness  of  this  payment  is  implied,  if  not  directl}'  taught  in  our 
Testimony,  Chap,  xxx,  Sec.  3. 

We  hold  it  to  be  our  dut}^  to  pray  for  the  government,  for  its  peace 
and  prosperity,  and  to  this  end,  we  do  notecase  to  pra}-  for  its  reforma- 
tion. Jeremiah  commanded  the  captive  Jews  to  pray  for  the  peace  of 
the  cit}',  Babylon,  that  in  its  peace  the}^  might  liave  peace.  (29:  T.) 
In  Paul's  first  letter  to  Timothy  he  exhorts  that  "  first  of  all  supplica- 
tions, prayers,  inteicession  and  giving  of  thanks  be  made  for  all  men, 
for  kings  and  for  all  that  are  in  authority,  that  we  may  lead  a  quiet 
and  peaceable  life  in  all  godliness  and  honesty.''  (2 :  1,  2.)  Some  one 
may  say,  the  Covenanters  in  Scotland  refused  to  pray  for  their  rulers. 
Yes,  they  refused  to  pray  for  them  as  rulers,  when  they  had  broken 
their  covenant  with  God  and  with  the  people,  and  had  by  tyranny  and 
oppression  forfeited,  as  they  believed,  their  right  to  rule,  yet  they  were 
willing  to  pray  for  tliem  as  men. 

We  believe  it  right  to  fight  for  our  country,  in  any  lawful  war,  where 
no  immoral  condition  stands  in  the  way.  Thus  it  will  be  seen,  we  are 
not  anti-government  men,  yet  ive  refuse  to  identify  ovr selves  with  the 
government  of  the  United  States  for  reasons  which  seem  to  be  good  and 
sufficient. 

Reason  1.  Because  there  is  no  acknowledgment  of  God  as 
the  source  of  all  civil  authority  or  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  as  Mediatorial  King  in  the  fundamental  law  of  the 
land.  The  law  referred  to  is  the  Constitution.  That  docu- 
ment may  be  read  from  beginning  to  end  without  so  much  as  learning 
that  there  is  a  God.  The  fact  of  the  non-reoognition  of  Jehovah  is  one 
which  has  long  been  lamented  bv  godly  men.  In  a  sermon  preached 
in  September,  1792,  Dr.  John  M.  Mason  said:  '^  While 
many  on  various  pi-etences  have  criminated  the  Federal  Constitution, 
one  objection  has  urged  itself  forcibly  on  the  pious  mind  :  That  no  no- 
tice whatever  should  be  taken  of  that  God  who  planteth  a  nation  and 
plucketh  it  up  at  his  pleasure  is  an  omission  which  no  pretext  whatever 
can  palliate.  Had  such  a  momentous  business  been  transacted  by  Mo- 
hammedans, they  would  have  begun,  '  In  the  name  of  God.'  Even  the 
savages  wliom  we  despise,  setting  a  better  example,  would  have  paid 
some  homage  to  the  Great  Spirit.  But  from  the  Constitution  of  tlie 
United  States,  it  is  impossible  to  ascertain  what  God    we    worship,  or 


THE  UNITED  STATES  GOVERNMENT.  3 

whether  we  own  a  God  at  all.''  Timothy  Dwight,  then  president  of 
Yale  College,  said,  in  the  year  1812:  "We  formed  our  Constitu- 
tion without  an\'  acknowledgment  of  God,  without  any  recognition  of 
his  mercies  to  us  as  a  people,  of  his  government,  or  even  of  his  existence. 
The  convention  by  which  it  was  formed,  never  asked,  even  once,  his 
direction  or  his  blessing  on  their  labors.  Thus  we  commenced  our 
national  existence  under  the  present  system  without  God."  This  state 
of  things  thus  lamented  by  Dr.  Mason,  President  Dwight  and  many  others 
(see  Christian  Statesman  Tract,  "  Testimonies  to  the  Religious  Defects 
of  the  Constitution  ")  still  continues. 

Not  only  is  the  nation  guilt}'  in  its  neglect  to  acknowledge  God,  but 
it  is  especially  guilty  in  its  failure  to  acknowledge  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  as  the  Mediatorial  King.  Xo  doctrine  is  more  clearly  taught 
in  the  Scriptures  than  the  doctrine  of  the  Mediatorial  dominion  of 
Christ  over  the  nations.  The  reader  is  referred  to  Ps.  22  :  28,  Isa., 
9:  6.,  Dan.  5.14.,  Matt,  28:18.,  Eph.  1:22,  I.  Cor.  15  :  2T,  and  parallel 
texts.  This  dominion  of  Christ  must  be  Mediatorial  for  it  is  ''given" 
to  him.  In  liis  essential  character  He  is  God  equal  with  the  Father 
and  receives  nothing  from  Him.  Moreover,  all  rightful  authority  is 
from  Him.  By  him  kings  reign  and  princes  decree  justice.  Prov. 
8:15.  Once  more,  civil  rulers  are  lequired  to  acknowledge  him  and 
judgments  are  pronounced  and  will  be  executed  on  those  who  do  not 
recognize  and  serve  him.     (See  Psalm  2,  Ps.  9:17,  et  al.) 

The  government  of  the  United  States  has  S3'Stematicall3^  ignored  the 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  Mediatorial  King  and  has  refused  to  ac- 
knowledge him  in  its  constitution  and  in  other  ofiicial  documents  in 
which  such  recognition  should  be  made. 

Our  position  has  ever  been,  that  it  is  inconsistent  with  the 
Christian  profession,  yes,  sinful  to  profess  allegiance  to  a 
constitution  of  a  government  which  is  in  hostility  to  Christ, 
the  Head  of  the  Church  and  the  Prince  of  the  kings  of 
the  earth.  Since,  then,  there  is  no  recognition  of  our  God  and  King  in 
the  fundamental  law  of  this  nation,  and  since  we  are  assured  in  the 
word  of  God  that  those  who  are  not  lor  Christ  are  against  him,  we  re- 
fuse to  identify  ourselves  with  the  government  of  the  United  States  as 
being  against  Christ. 

Some  will  say  ''  that  cannot  be  made  good  ;  our  government  is  for 
God  and  Christ;  our  president  calls  us  annually  to  observe  a  day  of 
thanksgiving  ;  there  are  chaplains  appointed  in  Congress,  for  the  army 
and  the  navy  ;  we  have  many  religious  usages,  we  are  a  Christian  na- 
tion." We  ma}'  admit  all  this  and  still  contend  that  our  government  is 
not  Christian  and  is  not  such  as  a  Christian  people  should  be  identified 
with. 

For  about  thirty  years  the  nation  has  been  called  annually  by  the 
chief  executive  to  observe  a  day  of  thanksgiving,  yet   not  once  in  all 


4  THE  RELATION  OF  COVENANTERS  TO 

that  time  have  the  people  been  called  to  approach  God  in  the  name  of 
Christ,  through  whom  alone  we  can  hope  to  find  acceptance. 

The  majority  of  all  the  people  in  the  land  may  be  Chris- 
tian, their  influence  may  be,  indeed  is  predominating.  Hence 
our  days  of  thanksgiving,  prayers  in  Congress,  etc.,  yet  I  affirm  that 
the  government  is  not  Christian.  How  can  a  government  be  called 
Christian  which  persistently  ignores  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ?  How  can 
a  government  which  persistently  tramples  under  foot  the  law  of  Christ 
be  called  Christian  ?  This  brings  me  to  another  reason  for  refusing  to 
identify  ourselves  with  the  United  States  government. 

Reason  2.  Because  the  government  of  the  United  States  tramples 
under  foot  the  law  of  God.     Here  I  make  specifications  : 

First.  The  law  of  God  is  trampled  under  foot  by  the  government 
when  the  "  Constitution  and  the  laws  of  the  United  States  which  shall, 
be  made  in  pursuance  thereof;  and  all  treaties  made,  or  which  shall  be 
made,  under  the  authority  of  the  United  States,"  are  declared  to  be 
"  the  supreme  law  of  the  land."  (See  Constitution,  Article  YI.)  There 
is  not  a  word  in  the  Constitution  recognizing  in  any  way  the  binding 
obligations  of  the  law  of  God  as  resting  on  the  government  or  any  of 
its  officers,  and  rarely  is  the  law  of  God  appealed  to  by  legislators  or 
judges  as  of  any  binding  authority.  Covenanters  hold  that  the  Word 
of  God  is  the  supreme  law  for  all  men,  and  refuse  to  identify  themselves 
with  any  association,  civil,  or  social,  that  does  not  recognize  the  su- 
premacy of  the  law  of  our  God. 

Second.  The  Constitution  sets  aside  the  test  which  God  has  laid 
down  as  a  qualification  for  office.  The  words  are  :  ''  No  religious  test 
shall  ever  be  required  as  a  qualification  to  any  office  or  public  trust 
under  the  United  States."  (Article  Nl.)  What  does  this  mean  ?  All 
agree  that  it  forbids  discrimination  against  any  because  of  religious 
opinions.  If  this  were  all  we  would  not  seriousl}'  object,  bub  practi- 
cally it  bars  any  objection  to  any  man  though  he  be  an  infidel  or  an 
atheist.  It  is  true  the  Christian  sentiment  may  so  far  prevail  in  many 
communities  that  such  might  fail  of  election,  but  being  elected  there  is 
no  constitutional  barrier  to  their  inauguration  in  the  highest  and  most 
responsible  trusts.  What  is  tiiis  but  to  set  aside  the  law  of  God  which 
lays  down  as  one  important  qualification  of  civil  officers  that  they  are 
CO  be  fearers  of  God  ?     (Ex.  18  :  21.;  Sam  23:  3.) 

Third.  The  law  of  God  is  trami)led  under  foot  by  the  United  States 
government  in  its  sanction  of  the  liquor  traffic.  No  man  can  legally 
manufacture  or  deal  in  intoxicating  drinks  in  the  United  States  without 
a  permit  from  the  government.  In  1883,  206,970  liquor  dealers 
and  manufacturers  held  such  permits.  Again  every  original  package 
of  liquor,  whether  barrel  or  keg,  bottle  or  deraijolm,  must  have  a 
United  States  revenue  .stamp  affixed.  When  these  conditions  are  com- 
plied with,  there  is  no  barrier  in  the  wa}',  so  far  as    the  government  is 


THE  UNITED  STATES  GOVERNMENT.  5 

concerned,  to  the  traffic  in  intoxicants.  What  is  this  but  to  sanction 
the  traffic  ?  We  take  for  granted  that  the  traffic  is  unholy.  We 
hold  that  every  one  who  identifies  himself  with  the  government  is  im- 
plicated in  the  sin  of  this  traffic.  Covenanters  desire  to  wash  their 
hands  of  all  complicitj'  with  this  unholy  traffic.  Hence  they  refuse  to 
become  part  and  parcel  with  the  United  States  government. 

Fourth.  The  government  tramples  under  foot  tlie  law  of  God  with 
reference  to  Sabbath  observance.  There  is  a  vast  amount  of  Sabbath 
desecration  in  the  land,  openly  practised  by  individuals  and  public  cor- 
porations, for  which  the  government  is  Midirectly,  if  not  directly,  re- 
sponsible, but  we  speak  particular^  of  governmental  acts.  The  Post 
office  department,  under  the  immediate  control  of  the  United  States 
government,  is  a  constant  violator  of  the  Sabbath.  Mails  are  required 
to  be  carried  on  a  large  number  of  routes  and  post-masters  are  re- 
quired to  keep  offices  open  in  all  of  the  principal  towns.  Wilbur  F. 
Crafts,  who  has  made  this  matter  a  subject  of  careful  inquiry,  states 
that  "only  a  few  (post  offices)  do  not  open,  and  these  in  very  small 
towns,  raan3^,  if  not  most  of  them,  off  the  line  of  the  railroad."  There 
are  tens  of  thousands  of  men  employed  every  Lord's  da}'  in  carrying 
and  distributing  mails  in  this  land.  The  government  is  responsible  for 
this  wholesale  desecration  of  the  Sabbath,  and  we  hold  that  every  one 
who  identifies  himself  with  the  government  is  a  partaker  of  the  guilt. 
This  is  only  one  form  of  Sabbath  desecration  by  the  gov- 
ernment; there  are  others  which  we  deplore.  Army  regulations  require 
reviews  of  soldiers  every  Sabbath  day,  and  more  than  once  Congress 
has  continued  its  sessions  over  the  Sabbath.  We  know  of  no  way  of 
washing  our  hands  of  all  complicity  in  these  sins  but  by  standing  aloof 
from  identification  with  the.  government  and  lifting  up  our  voice  of 
testimony  against  because  of  these  sins. 

In  closing  this  discussion  I  shall  endeavor  to  answer  some  objections 
to  our  position : 

Objection  1.  *'  The  Christian  has  no  right  to  withdraw  from  active 
co-operation  with  the  government,  but  is  in  dut}'  bound  to  vote  for  good 
men  for  officers,  and  if  he  is  chosen  to  office  he  is  bound  to  accept  and 
administer  it  on  Christian  principles."  We  answer  that  under  a  gov- 
ernment constituted  and  administered  in  accordance  with  the  law  of 
God,  it  is  the  duty  of  Christian  citizens  to  do  all  this,  but  that  no 
Christian  is  bound  to  identify  himself  with  a  government  which  is  God- 
less and  Christless  in  its  organization  and  that  in  its  laws  and  admin- 
istration sets  aside  the  law  of  God.  Were  it  not  for  such  barriers  as 
these  ))ut  in  our  wa}^  at  the  very  threshold — we  would  be  quite  ready 
to  participate  in  governmental  affairs.  We  say  then  to  the  objector, 
'you  have  put  barriers  in  our  way,  you  require  us  to  comply  with  sin- 
ful conditions  before  we  can  vote  or  hold  office ;  our  consciences  do 
not  permit  us  to  do  tiiis,  hence  as  conscientious  Christians  we  must 
stand  aloof  from  the  government  until  these  harries  are  removed. 


6  THE  RELATION  OF  COVENANTERS  TO 

Objection  2.  "  You  Covenanters  are  doing  nothing  to  reform  the 
government;  if  j^ou  would  vote  for  good  men,  3^ou  might  have  more  in- 
fluence in  bringing  about  the  reformation  you  desire."  If  the  objection 
were  true,  that  we  are  doing  nothing,  the  same  answer  might  be  given 
as  to  the  preceding  ;  but  it  is  not  true.  We  are  doing  that  which  is  far 
more  difficult  for  most  of  us  to  do  than  to  go  to  the  polls  and  vote.  It 
is  easy  to  go  with  the  multitude,  but  for  a  few  individuals  to  stand 
aloof  and  to  testify  against  the  multitude  is  not  so  easy.  The  course 
we  pursue  is  not  only  more  difficult  but  it  is  more  effective  than  the  course 
the  objector  would  have  us  take.  So  soon  as  men  identify  with  an  asso- 
ciation and  bind  themselves  to  its  constitution  and  laws  their  protest 
against  the  evils  which  ma}^  exist  in  that  association,  loses  its  power. 
There  are  some  men  who  protest  against  secret  associations  ;  does 
an3' one  imagine  they  would  have  more  influence  if  they  would  unite 
with  such  associations  and  then  try  to  reform  them  from  within  ?  We 
protest  against  running  of  trains  on  the  Sabbath  ;  what  becomes  of 
our  protest  when  we  buy  stock  and  perhaps  become  directors,  in  such 
railroad  companies  ?  In  these  cases  the  effective  protest  is  from  with- 
out;  so  to  make  our  protest  effective  against  the  immoralities  of  the 
government,  we  must  needs  stand  aloof  from  participation  in  govern- 
mental affairs.  The  word  of  Christ  says  concerning  the  two  witnesses, 
not  that  they  overcame  by  ballots,  but  "they  overcame  b}-  the  blood  of 
the  Lamb  and  by  the  ivord  of  their  testimoyiyy 

Objection  3.  "  If  all  Christians  would  do  as  you,  the  government 
will  never  be  reformed.  "  We  answer  our  trust  is  in  God.  He  has  the 
means  of  reforming  the  government  in  his  own  hands,  and  he  can  and 
will  accomplish  the  end  in  his  own  good  time  and  way,  without  re- 
quiring his  people  to  compromise  their  testimony  or  to  violate  their 
consciences.  In  illustration  take  a  glance  at  past  history.  How  was 
slavery  abolished  ?  Every  intelligent  man  knows  that  it  was  not  by 
ballots.  God  overruled  the  insolence  and  aggressiveness  of  the  slave 
power  to  effect  its  destruction.  He  who  abolislied  slavery  and  secured 
the  rights  of  man  without  ballots  does  not  need  your  votes  or  mine  to 
secure  his  own  rights.  We  are  to  be  witnesses  for  Christ  and  for  hi* 
truth,  to  testify  faithfully  against  tiie  infidelity  of  the  Constitution  and 
the  wickedness  of  the  government,  and  to  leave  the  consequences  with 
God.  In  the  words  of  the  late  Dr.  A.  M.  ^lilligan  :  "  It  is  not  ours 
to  inquire  whether  our  rams'-horns  trumpets  will  bring  down  the  walls 
of  Jericho  or  scatter  the  hosts  of  Midian,  but  to  blow  and  shout  and 
leave  God  to  do  his  part  in  his  own  way.  Some  good  honest  Christians 
think  it  will  not  do  to  stand  off  and  blow  the  trumpets,  but  they  must 
help  the  Lord  do  his  part  and  go  and  give  the  wall  a  push.  Poor  sim- 
ple souls,  the  Lord  does  not  need  their  help,  and  certainly  he  does  not 
require  us  to  violate  his  revealed  will  to  bring  about  his  secret  purpose, 
to  do  evil  that  good  ma}-  come." 


THE  UNITED  STATES  GOVERNMENT.  7 

Brethren,  let  us  remain  faithful  to  our  position.  Our  platform  is 
Scriptural,  and  it  is  safe.  Moreover  we  are  under  solemn  covenant 
obligation  to  stand  fast  on  this  platform.  We  have  sworn  to  continue 
to  refuse  to  incorporate  with  the  government  of  the  United  States 
until  a  reformation  has  been  effected.  (See  Covenant  18tl,  Sec.  3.) 
We  should  not  ao  back  or  turn  from  God  at  all.  Farther,  we  should 
do  nothing  to  lay  a  stumbling  block  in  the  way  of  others.  "  It  is  good 
neither  to  eat  flesh  or  drink  wine,  nor  anything  whereby  thy  brother 
stumbleth,  or  is  offended,  or  is  made  weak.''  Once  more,  we  have  re- 
ceived this  testimony  as  a  heritage  from  our  fathers,  shall  we  .cease 
to  maintain  it  ?  Never !  unless  first  convinced  that  it  is  unscriptural. 
As  \'et  the  more  I  study  it  the  more  I  am  pursuaded  that  it  is  the  only 
safe  and  consistent  position  for  Christians  to  take,  hence  I  would  say 
to  all  \ny  brethren,  hold  fast  notwithstanding  the  reproaches  of  men 
and  rest  assured  that  in  the  end,  you  shall  not  miss  3'our  reward.  We 
may  not  live  to  see  our  testimony  triumph  or  to  see  the  government 
submitting  to  Jesus  Christ,  but  if  we  are  faithful  unto  death  we 
shall  receive  tiie  crown  of  life. 


Reprinted  from  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  and  Covenanter,  December,  1890 


Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Libraries 


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PHOTOMOUNT 
PAMPHLET  BINDER 

PAT.    NO. 

877188 

Manufactured  by 

GAYLORD  BROS.  Inc. 

Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

Stockton,  Calif. 


